Category Archives: The Jay Franze Show

Jerry Hines, Manager (Craig Morgan, Trey Calloway)

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You can learn signal flow in a classroom, but you only learn touring when the bus doors close and the clock never stops. We sit down with Jerry Hines, a Tennessee-based tour manager turned artist manager, to unpack the behind-the-scenes reality of building a career in live music production and artist development. Jerry shares how a single phone call in 2004 launched him from side jobs into the deep end as a monitor engineer, then into production, front of house, and eventually the high-accountability world of tour management.

We talk about what makes monitors such a brutal seat, the kind of mistakes you only make once, and what it feels like mixing under pressure when the stakes are reputation-level high. Jerry breaks down arena vs outdoor show challenges, why relationships matter as much as gear, and the moment the job stops being “about the music” and becomes the business: budgets, staffing, leadership, and being the steady hand when everyone else is spiraling.

Then we pivot into artist management and the difference between operating with certainty for an established act like Craig Morgan and selling belief for a developing artist like Trey Calloway. Jerry explains how Broken Compass Management was born, the meaning behind the name, and what it takes to guide an artist through a path that’s rarely straight. We also dig into modern music industry shifts like independent strategy, record label leverage, and how AI could reshape management and touring.

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Paul Sidoti, Musician (Taylor Swift)

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Rock mythology is fun, but what does a real working career look like after the posters come down? We’re joined by guitarist Paul Sidoti for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with the exact moment KISS flipped a switch in his five-year-old brain and stretches all the way to the day he can email his heroes and actually get a reply. Along the way, Paul shares what those early influences gave him: the drive to learn parts by ear, the hunger for great sound, and the patience to keep getting better even when nobody’s watching. 

We dig into the gear and the craft in a way guitar players and music nerds will love. Paul breaks down why the EVH 5150 and 5150III amps became his workhorses, how he sets up clean, crunch, and lead tones for different styles, and why he still respects tools like the Tom Scholz Rockman from the early home-recording days. Then we jump into modern production with a deep look at Scarlet Sound Studio, his Carl Tatz-designed space in Nashville, including PhantomFocus tuning and why Dolby Atmos mixing is no longer optional for many streaming releases. 

The best stories are personal: Debbie Gibson as a songwriting hero, Rick Springfield moments that hit even harder because his parents were there, and the “be ready” reality behind getting called for big stages, including his Brian Adams connection. We also talk about playing for the song, why players like Neil Schon are more influential than flashy gets-credit guitar culture admits, and how humility, family, and great mentors keep a career healthy. 

If you enjoy conversations about classic rock, Nashville musicians, guitar tone, home studios, Dolby Atmos, and what it takes to stay joyful in the grind, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show.

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CMA Fest Recap

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Nashville during CMA Fest is a choose-your-own-adventure where every decision has a cost: stand in a line, catch a set, make a meeting, or follow a last-minute invite that turns into the best story of the week. We take you with us from the “question of the day” energy to the real CMA Fest play-by-play, including what it’s like navigating Broadway crowds, building a schedule with the CMA Fest app, and still getting surprised by who walks into the room.

We start strong with a private party at Third and Lindsley, where Daryl Worley brings the kind of storytelling and fan connection that reminds you why live country music still hits different. From there, we shift into the music industry side of Nashville with a studio visit to Matt McClure, a listen to Dolby Atmos, and a peek at how modern production can make a song feel immersive and physical. If you love gear, mixing, and how records get made, this part is for you.

At Fanfare X in Music City Center, we reconnect with artists we’ve interviewed and talk about the meet and greet grind, the personalities that shine in person, and the frustrating reality that you can miss official performances when the weekend fills up with commitments. Then it’s off to The Local for a writers round featuring Josie Sal, followed by Trey Calloway lighting up the night with a full-band set that proves why Nashville musicians are built different. We wrap with Saturday honky tonk chaos, a standout fiddle moment at Legends Corner, studio talk with Bob Bullock, and the practical details for watching CMA Fest on TV and planning next year.

Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more fans of CMA Fest, Nashville, country music, and live music stories can find us. What was your favorite CMA Fest moment, or your must-see artist for next year?

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